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dlrow · 08-20-2009, 09:25 AM

I'm nonjudgementally stating facts: I've experienced unimaginable amounts of suffering throughout my entire life. So much so that I actually think that I may have suffered more than anyone else in all of existence and I wouldn't wish my life on anyone. Even yet, as much as I've suffered, I still have not suffered enought apparently. For I am still lost in form (Tolle Jargon). I've tried everything to "wake up" I just want to stop the suffering. I want to be free. I want to be myself. Lately what I've been doing is I read the Power of now, then A New Earth, then Stillness Speaks, and I just continuously re-read them over and over again a little bit everyday. I've done this for probably the last 2 months and I'm still suffering. I have to become enlightened! I have to because I cannnot continue to suffer anymore. What can I do to finally stop the suffering?

zeitgeist · 08-20-2009, 09:45 AM

I would argue one step at a time: If you suffer so much, perhaps you will find, hopefully with the help of this community, a way to climb out of the this state. I know that Tolle found enlightenment when he was in deep dispair, but I would call this a lucky (and I am sure from a higher perspective deserved) break. I am pretty sure he wasn't consciously seeking enlightenment to end his pain then, whereas you are now.

The next step when you enjoy and appreciate life again is to work your way towards the highest spiritual goal, not really by working, but just by playfully discovering who you really are. I am sure you will have the driving force to achieve it based on your description. After all, this was Buddha's quest as well.

Hope this helps and may your path be blessed.
Zeitgeist

dlrow · 08-20-2009, 10:00 AM

In order to reach that next step, where I am able to enjoy and appreciate life again, I'm thinking that you guys should use the power of intention, or the secret or whatever to help me out.

ssandra · 08-20-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlrow

In order to reach that next step, where I am able to enjoy and appreciate life again, I'm thinking that you guys should use the power of intention, or the secret or whatever to help me out.

Why not do that yourself? You have the power to become happy, just by chosing to be happy.

You say you are reading the power of now.. are you also applying the principles?

I am new at this whole thing, but being happy is a state of mind that has nothing to do with the external world. Sure, certain things make it easier or more difficult, but you can be happy no matter what happens around you, if you choose to be.

ComplicatedSimplicity · 08-20-2009, 10:23 AM

Hi dlrow,

As everybodys life is different it would be impossible for anyone to tell you your path to becoming enlightened.

Just know 'everybody' gets there in the end.

Best advise is to just do the things you enjoy in life, and be patient

Moderation & Variety was my key.

Rob,

Ekb · 08-20-2009, 01:10 PM

Every day I want you to go for a walk, starting at 30 minutes. If you are already doing that, double it. Each time you do you'll feel better. Do that until you are ready for the next step.

BloomVerse · 08-20-2009, 01:24 PM

"Becoming enlightened" assumes there is someone to be enlightened. That in and of itself is ego-based. It's a path that guarantees suffering. The ego sense cannot intellectualize that which contains it.

I think the wiser choice is to just be.

A couple of things I noticed from your post that you can start working on:

1) You are fully identified as the one who suffers. Only the ego suffers. No matter how much the ego suffers, awareness is never fazed. Awareness is what is aware of the suffering.

2) You're resisting what is and also resisting what was. You're wanting desparately to change it all. In order to do that, you must hold all of the unwanted suffering in consciousness. In other words, you're holding on to the very things you don't want. To the degree you resist anything, you resist everything. Get in touch with the resistance and let it go. The most powerful place to make profound change is from unconditional acceptance of what is. Resisting everything will keep you stuck.

Starting by working on those points will be extremely powerful for you. Additionally, you should let go of wanting the ego to be enlightened.

ethereal · 08-20-2009, 04:39 PM

Satsang (lit. association with truth), meaning communion with enlightened beings/sages, will quickly bring you out of your misery, if only for the time you are with them. It is the easiest and probably the most powerful way to speed up your path to enlightenment. So I would suggest going to satsangs, retreats, etc. to quickly burn off your karma. If possible, find a enlightened sage to stay with for an extended period and/or become their student.

From Nisargadatta Maharaj:

"Q: A friend of mine used to have horrible dreams night after night. Going to sleep would terrorise him. Nothing could help him.
M: Company of the truly good (satsang) would help him.
Q: Life itself is a nightmare.
M: Noble friendship (satsang) is the supreme remedy for all ills, physical and mental."

Besides that, I would suggest practicing a nondual practice to get yourself into the state beyond the ego, it will ease the suffering if you can hold on to the state. If you can disidentify with the ego, even if just a little bit, then although the suffering is there, you can watch it objectively as awareness and not be the suffering ego.

And besides that, pray like the dickens

prayer will help a lot. Think of and pray to all the enlightened and liberated beings, and by thinking of them it's like you're pinging them and grabbing their attention, so they'll help you as much as they can. Accepting Jesus Christ as your saviour and asking him for help is also tremendously helpful.

runscored · 08-20-2009, 06:29 PM

Keep reading those books. They are great ones. I suggest you slow down to speed up. Read one book at a time, no more then ten pages a day. Then practice what you read so it becomes ingrained in you. Information is not the answer but action is. You must do the thing to have the power.

MasterD · 08-20-2009, 08:42 PM

What makes you suffer?

Most of the time life just demands of you to deal with the cause.

young · 08-20-2009, 10:10 PM

Quote:

What can I do to finally stop the suffering?

Search for (don't think it) the 'you' who is suffering. Search for it, and once the search is over... suffering will end!

spacedout · 08-21-2009, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlrow

I'm nonjudgementally stating facts: I've experienced unimaginable amounts of suffering throughout my entire life. So much so that I actually think that I may have suffered more than anyone else in all of existence and I wouldn't wish my life on anyone. Even yet, as much as I've suffered, I still have not suffered enought apparently. For I am still lost in form (Tolle Jargon). I've tried everything to "wake up" I just want to stop the suffering. I want to be free. I want to be myself. Lately what I've been doing is I read the Power of now, then A New Earth, then Stillness Speaks, and I just continuously re-read them over and over again a little bit everyday. I've done this for probably the last 2 months and I'm still suffering. I have to become enlightened! I have to because I cannnot continue to suffer anymore. What can I do to finally stop the suffering?

Dear dlrow,
What kind of suffering have you experienced; physical, mental or both? Everybody sufferes, that's the nature of living - some more than others, however. I saw a program on the tele last night about the suffering of Jesus. Researchers recreated what probably happened to Jesus from data they collected from the bones of people who were crucified during that time. Not only did Jesus suffer mentally but he endured tremendous physical punishment beyond anyone's comprehension.

The Buddha said that suffering is due to desires and that we must learn to pass from desire to the realization that we are eternal within. It is much like what Jesus said when he said "I and my father are one." The power and the light of God is within you.

I don't want to sound like I'm preaching but in my experience it is best to find one path, follow it, practice it and master it. It doesn't work to go from one source to another without truly stopping to investigate what works for you. I found what works for me and wrote a book about it. If you care to take a look at the website it is Pureawareness.info. Pure Awareness. Best of luck.

Rhythman · 08-21-2009, 02:09 AM

You are going to get all kinds of advice from this board. Nothing wrong with that, but I would recommend (yet some more advice) finding a good meditation group that has a teacher. Either that or find an author you like (Tolle is as good as any) and follow his or her specific instructions.

Liberation is at hand. Stay determined!

Rhythman

Curtis2011 · 08-21-2009, 03:14 AM

Please consider reading Power Versus Force by Dr. David Hawkins, an enlightened teacher. Steve Pavlina has posted once or twice about his work. His books, starting with PvF, will guide the way.

MacFly · 08-21-2009, 10:54 AM

as long as you want to be something you're not already, you're not.

08-20-2009, 09:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
dlrow Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4	Can someone help me become enlightened? I'm nonjudgementally stating facts: I've experienced unimaginable amounts of suffering throughout my entire life. So much so that I actually think that I may have suffered more than anyone else in all of existence and I wouldn't wish my life on anyone. Even yet, as much as I've suffered, I still have not suffered enought apparently. For I am still lost in form (Tolle Jargon). I've tried everything to "wake up" I just want to stop the suffering. I want to be free. I want to be myself. Lately what I've been doing is I read the Power of now, then A New Earth, then Stillness Speaks, and I just continuously re-read them over and over again a little bit everyday. I've done this for probably the last 2 months and I'm still suffering. I have to become enlightened! I have to because I cannnot continue to suffer anymore. What can I do to finally stop the suffering?

08-20-2009, 06:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
runscored Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 5	Slow down to speed up Keep reading those books. They are great ones. I suggest you slow down to speed up. Read one book at a time, no more then ten pages a day. Then practice what you read so it becomes ingrained in you. Information is not the answer but action is. You must do the thing to have the power.

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08-20-2009, 09:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
zeitgeist Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 716	I would argue one step at a time: If you suffer so much, perhaps you will find, hopefully with the help of this community, a way to climb out of the this state. I know that Tolle found enlightenment when he was in deep dispair, but I would call this a lucky (and I am sure from a higher perspective deserved) break. I am pretty sure he wasn't consciously seeking enlightenment to end his pain then, whereas you are now. The next step when you enjoy and appreciate life again is to work your way towards the highest spiritual goal, not really by working, but just by playfully discovering who you really are. I am sure you will have the driving force to achieve it based on your description. After all, this was Buddha's quest as well. Hope this helps and may your path be blessed. Zeitgeist

08-20-2009, 10:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
dlrow Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4	In order to reach that next step, where I am able to enjoy and appreciate life again, I'm thinking that you guys should use the power of intention, or the secret or whatever to help me out.

08-20-2009, 10:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
ComplicatedSimplicity Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK Posts: 117	Hi dlrow, As everybodys life is different it would be impossible for anyone to tell you your path to becoming enlightened. Just know 'everybody' gets there in the end. Best advise is to just do the things you enjoy in life, and be patient Moderation & Variety was my key. Rob,

08-20-2009, 01:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ekb Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 99	Every day I want you to go for a walk, starting at 30 minutes. If you are already doing that, double it. Each time you do you'll feel better. Do that until you are ready for the next step.

08-20-2009, 01:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
BloomVerse Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Rockledge, FL Posts: 44	"Becoming enlightened" assumes there is someone to be enlightened. That in and of itself is ego-based. It's a path that guarantees suffering. The ego sense cannot intellectualize that which contains it. I think the wiser choice is to just be. A couple of things I noticed from your post that you can start working on: 1) You are fully identified as the one who suffers. Only the ego suffers. No matter how much the ego suffers, awareness is never fazed. Awareness is what is aware of the suffering. 2) You're resisting what is and also resisting what was. You're wanting desparately to change it all. In order to do that, you must hold all of the unwanted suffering in consciousness. In other words, you're holding on to the very things you don't want. To the degree you resist anything, you resist everything. Get in touch with the resistance and let it go. The most powerful place to make profound change is from unconditional acceptance of what is. Resisting everything will keep you stuck. Starting by working on those points will be extremely powerful for you. Additionally, you should let go of wanting the ego to be enlightened.

08-20-2009, 04:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
ethereal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 586	Satsang (lit. association with truth), meaning communion with enlightened beings/sages, will quickly bring you out of your misery, if only for the time you are with them. It is the easiest and probably the most powerful way to speed up your path to enlightenment. So I would suggest going to satsangs, retreats, etc. to quickly burn off your karma. If possible, find a enlightened sage to stay with for an extended period and/or become their student. From Nisargadatta Maharaj: "Q: A friend of mine used to have horrible dreams night after night. Going to sleep would terrorise him. Nothing could help him. M: Company of the truly good (satsang) would help him. Q: Life itself is a nightmare. M: Noble friendship (satsang) is the supreme remedy for all ills, physical and mental." Besides that, I would suggest practicing a nondual practice to get yourself into the state beyond the ego, it will ease the suffering if you can hold on to the state. If you can disidentify with the ego, even if just a little bit, then although the suffering is there, you can watch it objectively as awareness and not be the suffering ego. And besides that, pray like the dickens prayer will help a lot. Think of and pray to all the enlightened and liberated beings, and by thinking of them it's like you're pinging them and grabbing their attention, so they'll help you as much as they can. Accepting Jesus Christ as your saviour and asking him for help is also tremendously helpful.

08-20-2009, 08:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
MasterD Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Netherlands, Amsterdam Posts: 496	What makes you suffer? Most of the time life just demands of you to deal with the cause.

08-21-2009, 02:09 AM	#13 (permalink)
Rhythman Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 160	You are going to get all kinds of advice from this board. Nothing wrong with that, but I would recommend (yet some more advice) finding a good meditation group that has a teacher. Either that or find an author you like (Tolle is as good as any) and follow his or her specific instructions. Liberation is at hand. Stay determined! Rhythman

08-21-2009, 03:14 AM	#14 (permalink)
Curtis2011 Family Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2,950	Please consider reading Power Versus Force by Dr. David Hawkins, an enlightened teacher. Steve Pavlina has posted once or twice about his work. His books, starting with PvF, will guide the way.

08-21-2009, 10:54 AM	#15 (permalink)
MacFly Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 581	as long as you want to be something you're not already, you're not.

Personal Development for Smart PeopleTM Forums

Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums